Satwik-Ashwini enter Round 2 at China Open

Changzhou (China), Sept 17 

India’s mixed doubles pair of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Ashwini Ponnappa stunned Indonesia’s world No. 7 combination of Praveen Jordan and Melati Daeva Oktavianti in the opening round of the China Open badminton tournament here today.

World No. 26 Rankireddy and Ponnappa recovered from a mid-game slump to beat the sixth seeds 22-20 17-21 21-17 in a 50-minute match. 

Rankireddy then paired with Chirag Shetty to beat the Canadian duo of Jason Anthony Ho-Shue and Nyl Yakura 21-7 21-18 in a 30-minute match to enter the men’s doubles second round. The Indians now face the fourth-seeded Japanese duo of Takeshi Kamura and Keigo Sonoda. — PTI